tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3266371808927804670.post6248737487915773532..comments2023-08-15T05:06:03.233-06:00Comments on The Writing Sisterhood: Cephalopod Coffeehouse Review: Never Let Me GoThe Sisterhoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09889577041903181315noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3266371808927804670.post-18964426998528299732013-12-12T15:14:59.467-07:002013-12-12T15:14:59.467-07:00Thank you, Elizabeth! It was indeed gripping.Thank you, Elizabeth! It was indeed gripping.Stephaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02187854108656107958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3266371808927804670.post-49962197353815812302013-12-07T09:16:53.051-07:002013-12-07T09:16:53.051-07:00This was an excellent review. I loved The Remains ...This was an excellent review. I loved The Remains of the Day, which I felt didn't miss a beat, so I'm sorry that aspects of this novel seem to be a little uneven. It does sound like a gripping story, though. Elizabeth Varadan, Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01708206753256682635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3266371808927804670.post-69809840280810097252013-12-04T09:23:34.263-07:002013-12-04T09:23:34.263-07:00My husband used to have a copy, but it got lost in...My husband used to have a copy, but it got lost in one of our moves. I do know the local library (you know the one I mean) has a copy because we recently checked it out so he could watch it again. Or you could try iTunes.<br /><br />As to Rope, well...not everyone's a Hitchcock fan! ;)Mary Maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09429769115085903305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3266371808927804670.post-38846774901746474472013-12-04T08:49:11.906-07:002013-12-04T08:49:11.906-07:00OK, it's not available to rent from Amazon, Ne...OK, it's not available to rent from Amazon, Netflix, OR Hulu+. Isn't that crazy? Do you happen to have a copy, by any chance, that I could borrow?<br /><br />I meant to tell you and Lorena, by the way ... we watched Rope! We all really enjoyed it except the young 'un; he thought it was "weird and boring." :)Stephaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02187854108656107958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3266371808927804670.post-31193207425710828412013-12-04T08:42:45.318-07:002013-12-04T08:42:45.318-07:00Thanks for the suggestion, MM! I will add it to my...Thanks for the suggestion, MM! I will add it to my watch list. <br />Stephaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02187854108656107958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3266371808927804670.post-87199390088262048412013-12-01T17:07:39.718-07:002013-12-01T17:07:39.718-07:00"Society is breeding clones for the purposes ..."Society is breeding clones for the purposes of organ transplants. The clones are informed of their purpose and know that the organ donations will result in their death; they seem all right with this."<br /><br />I'm surprised nobody has mentioned "The Island" by now. The premise of clones not knowing they're clones for organ harvesting and producing babies and expecting to leave to a utopian world called The Island sounds very similar to this book. Big difference: In "The Island", when the clones figure out what's going on, there is no way they plan on staying and being slaughtered for some selfish individual who only wants their body parts. I'm not sure I'd enjoy "Never Let Me Go" if it's just a bunch of ignorant lambs being led to the slaughter. Where's the motivation to root for a character? Try "The Island" if you haven't watched it already!Mary Maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09429769115085903305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3266371808927804670.post-45019445300724641432013-12-01T17:02:43.745-07:002013-12-01T17:02:43.745-07:00You should totally see The Goldbergs if you love t...You should totally see The Goldbergs if you love the 80s, Trisha!Mary Maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09429769115085903305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3266371808927804670.post-27823722148300195562013-12-01T11:28:05.908-07:002013-12-01T11:28:05.908-07:00That was Mary Mary (I know, it's hard to keep ...That was Mary Mary (I know, it's hard to keep us straight — sometimes I can't even remember which one of us wrote what) ... and now I want to check it out too!Stephaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02187854108656107958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3266371808927804670.post-57384200394508373682013-12-01T11:23:40.148-07:002013-12-01T11:23:40.148-07:00I have a feeling I might have seen that movie, it ...I have a feeling I might have seen that movie, it rings a bell. I did want to love this book, and it might just be that Ishiguro's prose style (apparently his other novels have a similar dreamlike feel with passive, floating characters) just doesn't suit me. Maybe it's an excellent novel, if you "get it." <br /><br />My son just finished the second of a YA series that could be described as "dystopian organ donation." It's called "Unwind" and while I haven't read it, it certainly sounds gripping. He keeps telling me bits and pieces of it.Stephaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02187854108656107958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3266371808927804670.post-22401734476757523762013-12-01T11:20:03.272-07:002013-12-01T11:20:03.272-07:00That endless TBR list never does get shorter, does...That endless TBR list never does get shorter, does it? Between these book reviews and the Kindle daily deals, I know I'll never cross everything off the list.Stephaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02187854108656107958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3266371808927804670.post-16986791687746228042013-12-01T11:19:13.193-07:002013-12-01T11:19:13.193-07:00Yes, that illogically-though-out agenda pushing is...Yes, that illogically-though-out agenda pushing is the very worst sort of didactic novel, isn't it? I'm not sure, still, whether this one fits your former or latter description. He may have intended my dissatisfied reaction; certainly he means to provoke. 1984 is similar, right? You're not supposed to walk away happy. But I can't get past the idea that these people would just stroll merrily (or at least resignedly) into the gaping maw of death.Stephaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02187854108656107958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3266371808927804670.post-29010938308610021852013-11-30T14:10:22.135-07:002013-11-30T14:10:22.135-07:00I love the cover! Too bad the book didn't live...I love the cover! Too bad the book didn't live up to your expectations. I hate it when that happens.<br /><br />This novel reminded me of a 70s film with Michael Douglas called "Coma" where they also "harvest" people for cloning purposes. But this is a thriller/suspense so the two protagonists do care! (And the patients have no idea of what's going on.) This makes a big difference because you're rooting for them all along, plus you want to know what's going on with the people who strangely end up in a coma. I'm surprised there hasn't been more of these cloning/organ donations novels.Lorenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17848249911635132594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3266371808927804670.post-27334030087247097772013-11-30T12:54:14.639-07:002013-11-30T12:54:14.639-07:00I've heard about the movie but never knew it w...I've heard about the movie but never knew it was based on a book. From your review, this looks like another book that goes on my lengthy TBR list, LOL.Huntresshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08155372788872245758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3266371808927804670.post-30253052388481011792013-11-30T08:04:40.570-07:002013-11-30T08:04:40.570-07:00Sometimes dissatisfaction is not necessarily disap...Sometimes dissatisfaction is not necessarily disappointment, but rather a duly registered reaction, which may well have been the point, that you understood exactly what the author intended. It was thought-provoking. Sometimes it turns out to be depressing, which is the perfect representation of the author's viewpoint. The opposite of this is when you know you've understood the intention but know instinctively that the premise was undercooked in order to fit an agenda that the author was dead-set on exploring even though they clearly stopped thinking about how it should logically play out in the story.Tony Laplumehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07854455859399339169noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3266371808927804670.post-19884954696612261012013-11-29T21:55:40.684-07:002013-11-29T21:55:40.684-07:00So do read it ... and then come back and let me kn...So do read it ... and then come back and let me know if you agree! My daughter liked it much more than I did, so apparently a positive review is possible.Stephaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02187854108656107958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3266371808927804670.post-51596580382591458842013-11-29T21:55:06.751-07:002013-11-29T21:55:06.751-07:00Isn't it a little worrisome when you know a bo...Isn't it a little worrisome when you know a book was "good" but you can't remember a dang thing about it? I feel that way about way too many books; I think that's why I write everything down at Goodreads. So I don't forget what I loved/hated about a book. I feel the same way as you about Never Let Me Go ... so much promise, and then it all goes wobbly. I do plan to give the movie a go, though. Knowing Hollywood, it will have a sparklier ending. In this case, that would be welcome.Stephaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02187854108656107958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3266371808927804670.post-55376752262931561592013-11-29T21:53:04.352-07:002013-11-29T21:53:04.352-07:00You probably should! But I'm like you. I feel ...You probably should! But I'm like you. I feel committed. It's like having a bad boyfriend you just ... can't ... quite ... give up on. OK, maybe not QUITE that bad. :DStephaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02187854108656107958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3266371808927804670.post-58444415876206634982013-11-29T21:52:02.786-07:002013-11-29T21:52:02.786-07:00I have to give props to a writer who can get my br...I have to give props to a writer who can get my brain going even though the rest of me is resisting the story. Maybe this one will gestate for a while and hatch into some fruition later. I have a feeling Philip K. Dick might approve. :)Stephaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02187854108656107958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3266371808927804670.post-77521001465105530912013-11-29T21:50:25.345-07:002013-11-29T21:50:25.345-07:00Hi Denise: I am also anxious to watch the accompan...Hi Denise: I am also anxious to watch the accompanying movie. My kiddo read this book with her teacher-led book club, and we're thinking of pulling together that crew for a movie night. Keira Knightley is usually pretty good, so who knows? I also want to see (maybe more than read) Remains of the Day. I agree with you about persevering ... I might not have, had I known how disappointed I'd feel at the end.Stephaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02187854108656107958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3266371808927804670.post-61936947066697365772013-11-29T21:28:22.152-07:002013-11-29T21:28:22.152-07:00p.s. I haven't seen the Goldbergs - nor heard ...p.s. I haven't seen the Goldbergs - nor heard of it till you mentioned it! Thanks for the tip :DTrishahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16927558937796802496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3266371808927804670.post-16250654427511448922013-11-29T21:24:41.266-07:002013-11-29T21:24:41.266-07:00As this is on my list of books to read, I guess I ...As this is on my list of books to read, I guess I shouldn't read most of your review if it'll spoil it. :PTrishahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16927558937796802496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3266371808927804670.post-44271212136121391622013-11-29T18:55:15.545-07:002013-11-29T18:55:15.545-07:00Stephanie, I read this book a few years ago, with ...Stephanie, I read this book a few years ago, with huge expectations. For awhile I thought I had a couple of favorite characters, but in the end the whole thing just bummed me out completely. I don't think I can sit through a movie of this book. And while I can forget the plots of at least half the books I read...this one will never go away!! Why is that? It's the worst, having something unimpressive take up valuable brain-space. Remains of the Day was a good book and I hardly remember a thing about it.Kerryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15281288495129054688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3266371808927804670.post-43016708485696199502013-11-29T17:45:47.868-07:002013-11-29T17:45:47.868-07:00I feel like I've heard of this book, but I hav...I feel like I've heard of this book, but I haven't read it yet. Thanks to your review, I'm going to have to track it down.<br /><br />I very rarely quit reading a book. I make myself finish reading even if I hate myself every word of the way. I should probably stop doing that.Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00010016525886790065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3266371808927804670.post-40192950992880879292013-11-29T17:16:17.873-07:002013-11-29T17:16:17.873-07:00I never know what to do with a story I don't l...I never know what to do with a story I don't like but that stays with me. There's gotta be something there, right? I haven't read the book but I read your spoilers anyway. Doomed characters resigned to their fate - I think I'd find difficulty digging up sympathy, too.The Armchair Squidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13509001761075530940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3266371808927804670.post-47519502718448035952013-11-29T15:05:38.605-07:002013-11-29T15:05:38.605-07:00Hi Stephanie. You write a very smooth review. I lo...Hi Stephanie. You write a very smooth review. I loved The Remains of the Day, of course, and wonder at the subject matter of this book by the same author. I no longer persevere with books if I don't care about the characters, and this sounds like I wouldn't, but who really knows unless we try? I abandoned The Casual Vacancy by J K Rowling for the same reason. I couldn't find even one character to care about.<br /><br />Be interesting to see the film of this book though. No doubt the director will put a little more flesh on the bones.<br /><br />DeniseDenise Covey https://www.blogger.com/profile/07106490051555233439noreply@blogger.com